Epidemiological Aspects in the Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Horses from Botucatu,São Paulo,Brazil

Leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis are zoonoses with high importance because of the economic and public health impact. This study was aimed to determine the seroprevalence of leptospirosis and toxoplamosis in 714 serum samples of horses from different farms from Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. The samples were researched for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and for Leptospira spp. antibodies by microscopic agglutination test. Of 714 serum samples, 128 (17.9%; 95% CI: 15.3%-20.9%) were positive for one or more serovars of Leptospira spp., with icterohaemorrhagiae, canicola, and castellonis as the most prevalent serovars, whereas 42 (5.9%; 95% CI: 4.4%-7.9%) were positive for T gondii, of which 33 samples (78.57%; 95% CI: 64.0%-88.2%) presented a titer of 16, 7 (16.7%; 95% CI: 8.4%-30.7%) a titer of 64, and 1 (2.38%; 95% CI: 0.6%-12.3%) a titer of 256. No significant difference was found among the results obtained and the associated variables such as age and sex.     

Serological survey of Neospora caninum in dogs in the Czech Republic and a long-term study of dynamics of antibodies

The main aim of the present study was to establish the prevalence of antibodies against Neospora caninum dogs from the Czech Republic and to examine the dynamics of antibody titers during a long-term period. For this purpose, sera of 858 dogs were examined for the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Four groups of dogs of various origins were included in the survey: the first group (A, n=470) comprised dogs purchased by the Czech Army from the civilian sector throughout the Czech Republic, with 22 (4.7%) N. caninum-positive dogs, second group (B, n=115) represented police dogs with no seropositive animal, third group (C, n=195) were pet dog sera collected for veterinary clinic with 5 (2.6%) anti-N. caninum sera and the fourth group (D, n=78) of canine shelter dogs with the seroprevalence of 19.2%. The differences in seroprevalence were significant (P< or =0.01) between groups B and A, and between D and A. None of the serologically positive animals had clinical signs of neurological disorders. Coprological examination did not reveal any dog shedding N. caninum oocysts. The seropositivity rates for N. caninum were analyzed in relation to other data, such as age, breed and gender. Increased prevalence rates of anti-N. caninum antibodies were found in the older age strata of the dog population sample tested in the present study. We found significantly higher (P=0.02) prevalence in 3-3.5-year-old dogs (11.1% of 36), as compared to 1-1.5-years-old dogs (2% of 98). A longitudinal study of antibody dynamics was carried out in 19 initially seropositive dogs over a period of 4 years. The second and third examinations revealed that antibody titers decreased in majority of positive dogs (10, 52.6%), of which in seven cases (36.8%) the titers fell to levels that are currently considered as being seronegative (titer <1:50), or even became undetectable (titer <1:25).     

海产蟹类血卵涡鞭虫病间接荧光抗体快速检测技术

以寄生于三疣梭子蟹血淋巴中的血卵涡鞭虫虫体为抗原,制备了多克隆血清抗体。抗体经健康梭子蟹血淋巴吸附处理后,间接ELISA检测效价达7680。应用该抗体建立了血卵涡鞭虫的间接荧光抗体检测技术(IFAT)。采用常用显微镜检、PCR及 IFAT三种方法对采集的养殖青蟹、梭子蟹、及海捕梭子蟹等18个样本进行了检测。检测结果显示：常规显微镜检阳性检出率为33.3%,而IFAT及PCR检测阳性率77.8%,符合率达100%;阳性虫体被染上黄绿色荧光,而正常梭子蟹血细胞则未被染色;可检测到血卵涡鞭虫不同生活阶段的营养体、腰鞭孢子及合孢体阶段。本文为血卵涡鞭虫的流行病学调查及生活史研究提供了简便实用的方法。     

Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in fallow deer (Dama dama) and feeding ticks from an Italy preserve

Up to date, information concerning the Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in fallow deer is scant, therefore, to verify its prevalence in these ungulates serological and PCR screenings were performed on blood of 72 fallow deer hunted in a Central-Northern Italian preserve. Molecular analyses were also performed on 90 ticks removed from the animals.A. phagocytophilum infection in fallow deer was confirmed in 20 out 72 by IFA assay and in 11 out 72 by PCR. The sequence obtained revealed a complete genetic homology among the blood samples and strong degrees of homology with other European isolates. Considering the 90 ticks collected we found that 7.3% of Ixodes ricinus harboured A. phagocytophilum specific DNA. The data obtained confirmed that fallow deer can be a competent host for A. phagocytophilum and, therefore, that may represent a biological reservoir playing an important role in the epidemiological scenarios of the infection, in the geographical areas where is widespread.     

Frequency of antibodies against Besnoitia besnoiti in Brazilian cattle

Besnoitia besnoiti is a cyst-forming parasite that has been associated with economic losses in Africa and Europe. Besnoitiosis is considered as a re-emergent disease in the European continent. It is unknown whether cattle are exposed to B. besnoiti in the Americas, thus the aim of this study was to serologically investigate antibodies against B. besnoiti in a total of 2014 cattle serum samples from two states from Brazil. All samples were evaluated by IFAT and part of the positive sera was tested by Western blot (WB) using tachyzoites extracts under non-reducing condition. A total of 3.48% (70/2014) of the tested sera reacted positively by IFAT with titers of 200 (85.7%), 400 (10%) and 800 (4.3%). When 47 positive samples were assessed by WB a range of antigens from 7 to 206 kDa was recognized by the IFAT-positive sera. The results are suggestive of exposure of Brazilian cattle to B. besnoiti due to the titers (≥200) observed for some sera using IFAT. However, the antigens recognized by the IFAT-positive animals did not completely match with the WB patterns previously described by other working groups. It is possible that Brazilian cattle are exposed to B. besnoiti strains with different antigenic composition of those described in the European and African continent. Further studies are needed to confirm the presence of B. besnoiti or other Besnoitia species in Brazilian cattle.     

Development and validation of a new dot blot test for the detection of Paramoeba pemaquidensis (Page) in fish

In this study, the development of a dot blot assay to assess amoebic gill disease (AGD) using non-lethal gill mucus samples is described and its performance validated by comparing the assay with the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), the 'gold standard' test. The agreement between the two tests was high, with a positive predictive value of 95% and negative predictive value of 93%, with a corrected κ value of 0.88. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were 97 and 91%, respectively. The dot blot is both sensitive and specific for Paramoeba pemaquidensis and is formatted so that large numbers of samples can be conveniently analysed.     

克隆表达的犬吉氏巴贝斯虫重组GST-P130kDa 用于血清学诊断

利用抗体法（picoBlueTMImmunscreening Kit,应用B.gibsoni感染血清）从犬吉氏巴贝斯虫（B.gibsoni）裂殖子mRNA制备的吉氏巴贝斯虫cDNA文库中进行免疫筛选,选出目的基因相cDNA片段（阳性克隆）.测序验证后将该cDNA（基因）克隆至原核表达载体pGEX-4T-3,构建重组质粒,在大肠杆菌E.coli（DH5a）中以GST融合蛋白的形式表达（SDS-PAGE分析证明）;表达产物为130kDa的可溶性融合蛋白.免疫学分析（Western blot和ELISA）结果表明,犬吉氏巴贝斯虫重组GST-P130kDa融合蛋白（rBg GST-P130kDa）能与犬吉氏巴贝斯虫（B.gibsoni）感染血清起反应,且与犬巴贝斯虫（B.canis）无交叉反应.本试验利用犬吉氏巴贝斯虫重组BgGST-P130kDa融合蛋白（作为重组抗原）检测巴西（n=310）、日本（n=100）和中国（n=114,n=30）等国随机采集的自然感染狗血清,其结果为巴西狗血清阳性率为55%、日本为8%、中国为1～9%;其结果与间接荧光抗体法（IFAT）结果为一致（作为验证）.结果表明重组BgGST-P130kDa融合蛋白具有较强的免疫原性和特异性,可用于吉氏巴贝斯虫病的诊断,这为吉氏巴贝斯虫病的早期诊断和深入研究犬吉氏巴贝斯虫病的特异性重组抗原及重组疫苗奠定基础.     

Investigation of seroprevalence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Theileria equi</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Babesia caballi</Emphasis> in horses in Nigde province,Turkey

The prevalence of equine piroplasmosis caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Nigde, in central Anatolia, Turkey has remained unknown. Serum samples were obtained from a total of 125 horses and were tested for antibodies to T. equi and B. caballi using the Indirect Fluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT). Twenty-three (18.4%) horses were seropositive for equine piroplasmosis. Anti-T. equi was observed in 16 horses (12.8%) while anti-B. caballi was detected in 12 horses (9.6%). In addition, 5 serum samples were positive for both parasites. The prevalence rates of antibodies to T. equi and B. caballi for female and male horses were statistically indifferent (p = 0.19 and 0.90). The difference between the seropositivity rates to T. equi among age groups was statistically insignificant (p = 0.44) while the difference to B. caballi among age groups is statistically significant (p = 0.01). Seropositivity rates ranged from 2.9% to 25.7% for T. equi and 2.9% to 14.3% for B. caballi from the selected districts in Nigde. A statistically significant difference on seropositivity rates for the study sites was observed for only T.equi (p = 0.03). This study indicates that T. equi is higher than B. caballi in Nigde. This study was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Unit of Nigde University (FEB 2007/08).     

A parasitological, molecular and serological survey of Hepatozoon canis infection in dogs around the Aegean coast of Turkey

Canine hepatozoonosis is caused by the tick-borne protozoon Hepatozoon spp. The prevalence of the infection in the Aegean coast of Turkey was investigated by examination of blood smear parasitology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using blood samples from 349 dogs collected from Central Aydin, Kusadasi, Selcuk, Central Manisa, Bodrum and Marmaris within the Aegean coast of Turkey. The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for the detection of Hepatozoon canis antibodies was also used to detect the exposure rate to H. canis. PCR amplifying a 666bp fragment of 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. was used in the epidemiological survey. The prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. infection was 10.6% by blood smear parasitology and 25.8% by PCR. IFAT revealed that 36.8% of serum samples were positive for antibodies reactive with Hepatozoon spp. The PCR products of 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. isolated from six infected dogs, one isolate originating from each of the six different locations, were sequenced. The results of sequence analysis indicate that they are closely related to Indian and Japanese isolates of H. canis. This is the first epidemiological study on the prevalence of H. canis infection in the dog, in Turkey.